10/04/21 Praying With JESUS: 40 Days Toward Church Revitalization — Day 04

Of course, Mark’s gospel account is not the only place in the New Testament wherein a sense of urgency is portrayed. John’s gospel records words of urgency directly from Jesus’ mouth.

John 1:1-13 (ESV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus healed the man who had been born blind in order to display the works of God through the man’s life. List three things here that would display the works of God in your community if your church pursues, and experiences, REVITALIZATION:

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THE UNKNOWNS… Did you notice the things that were unknown by the participants in John’s account of the blind man’s healing? His disciples didn’t know why the man had been born blind. No one knew how clay could bring sight to blind eyes. The blind man’s neighbors did not know how the blind man came to have sight. The blind man did not know where Jesus had gone after Jesus had healed him.

Every situation has unknown factors. Generally, we don’t like having unknown factors because we like to have everything under our control. But in the work of REVITALIZATION you will encounter unexpected unknowns for which you could not plan. What will you do with them? Will you be willing, just like the participants in the blind man’s healing, to trust every detail to Jesus? Are you ready to entrust all the unknown factors in the REVITALIZATION of your church to His sovereign rule?

PRAY… Lord Jesus, I must admit that the whole business of REVITALIZING our church is somewhat frightening. There are many unknowns. Yet, it is also exciting to think about the lives that will be changed and the influence we can have once again in our community for the sake of the Gospel! Still, Lord, I am sure there will be things about this REVITALIZATION that will be uncomfortable for me personally; things that will be out of my control. I want to say with all my heart today that -- I trust You! You spoke everything into existence! You are the substance by which all things are held together! I believe You will gloriously handle all the unknowns that come into play in the complete REVITALIZATION of our church. I trust You to do it! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.